Utilities Manager
About the Role
A leading pharmaceutical manufacturer in Haarlem is seeking an experienced, hands‑on Utilities Manager to oversee all site utilities, including HVAC, clean utilities, and black utilities. This is a highly operational, demanding role requiring strong technical capability, leadership of a sizeable team, and the ability to work flexibly during weekends and after-hours when needed.
The environment includes a mix of modern and older equipment (with some systems dating back to 1991), requiring both practical problem-solving skills and a proactive approach to reliability and maintenance.
This position manages a team of 13 technicians, working closely with the calibration, maintenance, and production teams to ensure the continuous, compliant functioning of all utility systems.
Key Responsibilities
- Lead, coach, and develop a team of 13 utility and HVAC technicians.
- Oversee the operation, maintenance, and troubleshooting of HVAC systems, clean utilities (e.g., purified water, clean steam), and black utilities (e.g., compressed air, chilled water, boilers).
- Ensure the availability, reliability, and compliance of all utilities supporting GMP pharmaceutical manufacturing.
- Manage both modern and aging equipment, including critical systems from the early 1990s.
- Work closely with the strong in‑house calibration team to ensure all calibration activities are completed and compliant.
- Ensure proper functioning and integration of BMS (Building Management Systems).
- Utilize SAP PM for maintenance planning, scheduling, and documentation.
- Maintain full compliance with pharma regulatory standards (GxP).
- Support and participate in after‑hours or weekend interventions as required to maintain production uptime.
- Drive continuous improvement initiatives around energy efficiency, equipment reliability, and preventive maintenance.
Required Qualifications
- Fluent Dutch speaker - essential, as the team is primarily Dutch.
- Minimum 5 - 7 years' experience in utilities management, maintenance engineering, or HVAC operations.
- Strong working knowledge of HVAC, utilities systems, and clean/black utilities.
- Pharmaceutical manufacturing experience (or another highly regulated GMP environment).
- Experience with BMS systems and SAP PM.
- Demonstrated leadership experience managing technical teams.
- Hands‑on mentality with strong troubleshooting and problem‑solving capability.
- Ability and willingness to support operations during weekends and outside regular working hours when needed.
What You Bring
- A practical, solutions‑oriented approach.
- Strong communication skills and the ability to lead a diverse technical team.
- A proactive mindset toward equipment reliability and GMP compliance.
- The resilience to manage a demanding, fast-paced environment.
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